Non league boss sacked despite being top of league and 72% win record

In this article, we take a look back to the time a non league boss ended up getting sacked despite being top of the league table.

So if you are a manager that has seen your team promoted up through four leagues, and in the current league that they are in, they are 1st place, and have a 72% win record for the entire time at the club.

You’d think you would be in demand, with sides in higher leagues wanting you? However he was instead controversially got rid of by then-Southern Counties East League Division One side Welling Town.

They were founded in 2014 as a Sunday League team, and then two years later switched to Saturday football in the 14th tier.

It’s where Richard Dimmock took over and saw the club promoted four times in the space of two seasons. The 2016/17 season he got them promoted from 14th to 13th tier, and then the following campaign applied for promotion to the Southern Counties East League Division One.

That was accepted and they jumped up three leagues in one summer and then found themselves in the 10th tier.

They took to this league like a duck to water, but when Dimmock was sacked (November 2018), they sat top of the table four points clear. Why was he got rid of? Because his side failed to win four games in a row. One in the cup, three in the league, in the league it was 1 draw and 2 defeats. That was deemed enough to give him the chop. Ouch.

He got 39 points from the first 17 games of the season, that’s what he did, yet it was somehow not enough for him to keep his job.

The club statement read: “It is with regret, especially after such a successful 23 months in charge of the first-team, that this evening manager Richard Dimmock leaves the club,” chairman Kevin Oakes told www.wellingtown.co.uk.

“Whilst our position at the top of SCEFL Division One is strong and our time under Richard’s management has seen us progress many levels and win trophies, recent results and performances have not been in line with expectations and several wider issues off the field remain a concern.

“We thank Richard for his efforts in his time with us. He has been instrumental in us getting to where we are and as someone I have known for more than 20 years, this decision is all the more difficult.

“We’re still surprised he even considered taking the job at the level we were at, and very pleased me helped deliver our main aim at that time of progressing from amateur to semi-professional football and to enter the Southern Counties East Football League.

“Without his input the club would not be in the place it is today, but to continue moving forwards we feel that a change is required.

“Whilst sad news, we’ll be eternally grateful. A big thank you Dimmo and best wishes for the future.”

Now, those who made the decision at Welling Town really can’t complain about the results side of things, they were smashing the 10th tier at their first attempt after being promoted up three leagues in one go.

As mentioned his win percentage stood at 72 for the 23 months he was in charge at the club. Enough to make Pep Guardiola proud.

They admit the they are grateful for the success he brought to them, but also add how some off-field issues played a part in getting rid, so they allege. But to include a winless run of four games and are still top of the league is harsh.

They were crowned champions for Division One in 2018–19 and have since remained in the Southern Counties East League Premier Division, with the last two seasons unable to finish (getting to 9th in 19-20 and 13th in 20-21).

Fans reacted when seeing that the non league boss was sacked despite being top of their league…

@PeterParry2: All the best dimmo

@RChentouf: Wow

@Tuguy02: 😯 that’s mad!

@deloldfield4: Really sorry to hear this. I’ll always appreciate the kind words of support and encouragement that Dimmo gave us for the work we are doing @PhoenixResSCEFL before and after we played you. Good luck in whatever you do next pal

@Newparkfc: Alarming expectation levels at semi pro managers simply not given any time sad to see

@Gareth_Gman91: Strange one

@Ragsyc1: Absolutely astonishing. Delusions of grandeur, the grass is always greener springs to mind. No doubt like Ebbsfleet and Ashford with their ‘a search for a new manager begins’ a new one will be appointed in the next day or two.

@Lamirez_tekkers: WHATTT!!! Top of league and sacked #Madness

@RChentouf: I’m so confused we only lost 2 games

@dartfordmarket: This decision from the Chairman shows total disrespect to the @SCEFLeague Div 1 and the clubs that play in it. He basically saying @WellingTownFC should win EVERY game they play in the league. Anyone who takes this job is nuts

@exTTFCgaffer: Wtf

@MJTurkish: The guy can walk away with a phenomenal record, two promotions, 3 cups, the treble last season, only one defeat last year and top of the table as it stands

@e_blower: Beyond understanding. What more could the club want?

@Newparkfc: Deluded club

@Mmillsy15: That’s a joke. Just another chairman with money playing football manager.

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